What kind of generator do you have that uses 1+ gal/hour with a light load? Fuel consumption is proportional to the watts being consumed. My big Onan QD 7500 uses only 0.5 gal/hr at 50% load, which is still a LOT of power. 50% = 3750 watts, which would run both a/c as well as tvs and computers.

Without the a/c, I'm down to around 12% load (900 watts), which drops my fuel consumption down to about 0.2 gal/hr, about the same as a Honda 1000

Good question .... my Onan is using about the same .... worst case is below 1/2 gal per hour or about $2.00 per hour (that's bad enough but compared to gas generator very similar).

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Mike, what is your physical/electrical connection point for above? Thanks, Bruce.

Put adapters on the shore power cord and plug directly into the receptacle on the generator. We use my friends generator, so I have no investment in ownership. It will do what we need for less cost than my 7.5 QD.

wouldn't the added cost of buying an extra generator negate any gasoline savings?

Not to mention, hauling around full gas cans, getting gas cans filled, storage of both generator and fuel...I am not seeing the big advantage of a 2nd smaller generator. $2,000.00/$3.75 per gallon = 533+ hours of generator operation...not very much savings...IMHO.

It's really not about savings for me. We use it tailgating, it is much quieter since I can move the Honda away from the MH, there is no heat blowing from under the MH as we are sitting under the awning watching tv, I carry a golf cart on a trailer to games so transporting the Honda and a 2.5 gallon gas can is no problem, and most importantly, I don't have to sleep on top of a running generator. I generally run it at night just to charge the cart batteries for the next day.

I think the point of a smaller generator is to be able to just place it in the back ground out of the way and let it purrr away and not bother anyone with fumes or noise, and maybe burn less fuel . Makes it nicer inside the MH , I used my dads little honda that way and it was great.
just my 2 cents
gbstewart

Good question .... my Onan is using about the same .... worst case is below 1/2 gal per hour or about $2.00 per hour (that's bad enough but compared to gas generator very similar).

My Onan 8KW is the same. I just wonder how long it will take to "pay" for the gas generator before you really start seeing the "apparent" savings. Then for us diesel owners, now you have to lug around a gas can, etc.

It would help if the OP had mentioned just what his on board generator is. If it's a gas non-inverter generator I think they will run at full tilt no matter what the load is, making a portable, inverter generator an attractive option.

We have an Onan QD in our coach but after this topic came up on another forum I took my Honda 2000i out for a test on a 3 day boondocking/Jeeping trip just to see if there was any upside to having it.

The first thing I noticed was that at first when charging 1/2 depleted batteries the 100A converter was at full charge, the Honda was running almost flat out and just about as noisy as the QD while standing outside the coach but the noise/vibration was less noticeable inside.

After things got topped up it was quieter both inside and out. The ability to run a 25' 12GA cord in addition to the attached 50A cord would also allow the Honda to be placed over a small rise or just away from the coach toward a vacant area if desired.

Fuel usage is so minimal with the Honda I could charge for a couple of hours each night for 3 nights on the internal tank with no refill. Nice.

Bottom line is for the price of the Honda it's a wash if one has a QD on board, if a gasoline or propane generator is built in then it may be worth it. I already had the Honda and will be carrying it both for my sake and for my neighbors.

Return on investment is not just $$$ it's also peace and quiet so it may be worth it to some folks to buy it to supplement their on board generator.

__________________
The above post is just my experience/opinion which is worth exactly what you paid for it.
'05 Lance 845/'06 F-250 or '99 Alpine 36SDS Usually towing an '01 Wrangler locked on 35"s or moderate '98 Cherokee on 33"s (rear locker only)

I think the point of a smaller generator is to be able to just place it in the back ground out of the way and let it purrr away and not bother anyone with fumes or noise, and maybe burn less fuel . Makes it nicer inside the MH , I used my dads little honda that way and it was great.
just my 2 cents
gbstewart

Now this is more like my line of thinking. In addition, for me (living in FL), it could provide backup (partial) home power in emergency situations.

We carry a Yamaha 2000. It gets used at tailgating and camping with no hookups, when our power demands are light enough. It runs around 7 hours on a gallon of gas. Much more efficient than the onboard 7k. I like also that I've got a power source than can be brought to life with just a pull of the rope and no additional battery. It with it's 12v outlet, came in very handy once when we were camping and our pick-up truck battery needed a jump.

__________________Harley Ultra Classic (Geezer Glide) Rider, Retired US Army Paratrooper, fisherman, shooter. Proud to have served, proud of those that still do, or have done so with pride.2005 National Dolphin 34'
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Here are some real facts from the official data sheets for my 7KW PowerTech diesel generator and a Honda 2000 gas generator. The table looks strange because the forum formatting makes showing tables difficult

Note that the Honda 2000 is rated at 2000 peak watts, but 1600 full load watts.

Here are some real facts from the official data sheets for my 7KW PowerTech diesel generator and a Honda 2000 gas generator. The table looks strange because the forum formatting makes showing tables difficult

Note that the Honda 2000 is rated at 2000 peak watts, but 1600 full load watts.

Factor = the percent of time the appliance will run while Gen is running.
AC is entered twice because many Class As have two AC units.

While the diesel data comes from the PowerTech data sheets, similar sized diesel generators should produce similar results.

Note that this data compares a diesel generator to a gas generator. I don’t have data to compare a MH gas generator with the portable Honda.

That's pretty interesting Wil. It appears as though the Honda would burn more fuel than the diesel, if the Honda were capable of handling all of the load the diesel can. Since the Honda could only run the TV, Micro and Ref simultaneously wouldn't the gph numbers for the honda be zero, for the rows with AC, AC and Battery charger since it wouldn't even be able to run without tripping the overload circuit?

Not trying to sharp shoot you buddy . That's a pretty impressive bit of statistical analysis. Just trying to understand it a little better .

__________________Harley Ultra Classic (Geezer Glide) Rider, Retired US Army Paratrooper, fisherman, shooter. Proud to have served, proud of those that still do, or have done so with pride.2005 National Dolphin 34'
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